TechRadar Verdict
The Ultenic U16 Flex surprised me, in a good way.
Lightweight and easy on your arms and back, its an affordable choice for everyday messes on hard flooring.
Definitely worth checking out.
Everything that came in the box for my review model
As you may have already guessed from the name, the most notable feature is the U16 Flexs flexibility.
That’s not the only feature borrowed from today’sbest cordless vacuums.
Ultenic promises the battery will last up to a full 60 minutes.
I managed 54 in my tests, but that’s still very respectable.
It’s absolutely one of thebest budget vacuumsI’ve tested.
However, there’s one concession you’ll need to make for that mind-blowingly bargain price.
The control panel shows power level and battery percentage, and the light ring turns more red as the power dials up
So this one is only really suitable for people with mostly hard floors in their home.
That’s firmly in the budget bracket.
Sadly, Australians are out of luck because its not available there yet.
The bin empties easily.
But for everyone else, this vacuum delivers mid-range performance for a low-end price-tag.
Its got power, its lightweight, and its brilliant for getting into all those low-level nooks and crannies.
The design has hints of early Dyson, too that purple cyclone-like filter chamber looks very familiar.
Using the crevice tool in handheld mode
Overall, it’s lightweight and easy to use; you wont be breaking a sweat lugging it around.
It’s sturdy enough to get the job done without worrying itll collapse mid-clean.
The main design highlight for me was the flexible wand, which can be released to bend forwards.
The brush bar is great on hard floors and doesn’t get choked with hair
It bends and twists like a pro, making those hard-to-reach areas not so hard-to-reach.
The main floorhead is solid enough, with decent swivel action that lets you glide around furniture.
It’s also shallow enough that it doesnt get stuck under my sideboards, like competitors' models have.
It’s light and nimble for cleaning the stairs
The Ultenic U16 Flex features a generous dustbin for the cordless sector, with a 95ml capacity.
The Ultenic U16 Flexs charging wall mount is space-saving and convenient.
On carpet I felt like I was wasting my time in Eco mode.
Flour on hard floors, the left strip shows Eco mode and the right is in Turbo
Normal was okay, but I also had to call upon the battery-depleting Turbo mode for carpets.
The vacuum only lasted around 12 minutes in Turbo mode.
However, it wasn’t long enough to clean the four carpeted bedrooms upstairs.
Oats on hard floors, the left strip shows Eco mode and the right is in Turbo
I could have done with a spare battery to tackle upstairs though.
The real star of this vacuum, though, has to be the flexibility.
The floorhead swivels and moves really smoothly and I can glide around my furniture without getting the floorhead stuck.
Flour on carpet, the left strip shows Eco mode and the right is in Turbo
The flex wand is also a total game-changer.
Plus, the attachments are really easy, if slightly clunky, to pop on and off.
In handheld mode, the Ultenic U16 Flex really shines for quick and targeted cleaning jobs.
Oats on carpet, the left strip shows Eco mode and the right is in Turbo
TechRadar’sbest vacuum for pet hairlist has some alternative suggestions here.
Its not silent, but its definitely quieter than I expected for the price.
He still lost his cool when I dialed up to Turbo, though.
The filter is easy to clean under a running tap
The Ultenic U16 did well on the hard floors and failed on carpets.
I nearly ran out of power before my carpet was clean again.
Maintenance
I found the Ultenic U16 easy to clean and maintain.
The bin pops open really easily and empties straight out no fishing about with sticks to unblock clogs.
The HEPA filter is also simple to access, which is a bonus for those who hate vacuum maintenance.
In Eco mode, the vacuum lasted a generous 52 minutes.
In Turbo mode the battery lasted just 12 minutes.
Recharging takes around four hours.
Should you buy the Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless?
Attribute
Notes
Rating
Value for money
Lower-mid range at full price but generally discounted to the budget bracket.
With a price tag this low, one thing you cant grumble about is value.
4/5
Performance
Easy to maneuver and impressive pickup on hard floors, but not really powerful enough for carpet.
Buy it if…
Turn it on, vacuum, empty and repeat.
Carpets are everywhere
You need heavy-duty suction power for deep-pile carpets; this ones definitely better for hard floors.
Its not super loud, but its no whisper either, especially on max power.
Our home is a Victorian, four-bed detached property that is mostly open-plan downstairs.
Read we test vacuum cleaners.
